The way to economic development

By Gisselle Ruiz Lanza*

Consultants such as Boston Consulting Group and Oxford Economics point out that more than 15% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) is driven by the digital economy. This figure is natural, since it is a reflection of the growing importance of technology and innovation in the global economy. Thanks to advances in this area, numerous countries have promoted their development, in turn accelerating economic growth. Investment in technology has benefited entire regions, and Mexico and Latin America are no exception to this trend.

But what does this economic growth drive? Innovation is the engine of this progress, and semiconductors are the core of this process. These tiny but fundamental pieces, function as the brain not only of computer equipment such as PCs and data centers, but also enable key industries such as automaker, energy, health, telecommunications and many others.

In such a globalized and digitized world, it is difficult to imagine a scenario without technology, and semiconductors are the piece that enables this transformation. This phenomenon, which I like to call the economy of the silicon, estimates that by 2030 the global chips market will reach a value of 1 billion dollars, according to the “global prognosis of the 2025 semiconductor industry” of Deloitte. The chips industry not only provides benefits in its final products, but also creates jobs and attracts talent and investments, while increasing the competitiveness of the local economy of a country.

Precisely because of this, the Government of Mexico recently announced its Mexico 2030 Plan, which seeks to boost various industries in the country to make them more competitive worldwide. Among these key sectors is the semiconductor. It is not surprising, since as we saw, this industry offers multiple benefits, and additional to this Mexico already has experience in the subject and has the basis of the talent necessary to achieve this goal. In the country there are already successful centers of this style and proof of this is our design center in Guadalajara de Intel (GDC), where important stages are carried out in the manufacture of chips, such as design, validation and testing, in addition to having specific areas for research and development. The technology created in these centers comes to everyone, and Mexican teams have led research and innovations that have a global impact.

This initiative of the Mexican government is undoubtedly positive, since it seeks to strengthen the national semiconductor industry. It is important to remember that the manufacture of chips is a complex and global process, with multiple stages that involve different countries, regions and companies. From the design and research, the manufacture of the component, its assembly, tests and packaging. Each phase requires high sophistication and necessary infrastructure. In this context, the development of local capacities is essential to build a robust and competitive long -term ecosystem.

However, for this plan to be successful, it is necessary to establish strategic alliances between the government, the industry and the academy, in order to create solid programs that promote this great goal. Several companies and institutions have collaborated with the Government and the Academy in initiatives that have benefited thousands of students and teachers through learning programs on artificial intelligence, the development of chips and other technologies necessary for the semiconductor industry of the future. How can we ensure that Latin America has the specialized talent you need to take advantage of this opportunity? Deloitte’s same report mentions that one of the great challenges will be the availability of specialized talent, so it is necessary to generate a stronger technological and competitive ecosystem in the country.

The digital transformation will continue to positively impact the countries of Latin America and help their economies if they follow a model similar to the one I mentioned. In Mexico, the semiconductor industry awaits an investment of 10 billion dollars between 2024 to 2030 with the semiconductor master plan, and the country is currently the eighth producer of electronic components for cars and the aerospace industry according to the Tetakow company. Likewise, the technology industry is also strong in other Latin American countries such as Brazil, which has experienced a boom in the construction of data centers, promoting the local economy and attracting foreign investment, as well as in countries such as Chile and Costa Rica, among others, who had a good performance in the “World Innovation Index 2024” improving its position with respect to last year.

2025 is emerging as a good year for the technological industry where the global demand for semiconductors, driven by artificial intelligence and digital transformation, presents a unique opportunity for Latin America and other economies in the world. To take advantage of this moment, it is vital that leaders in the region continue to invest in education, infrastructure and policies that foster public-private collaboration. With a clear strategy and concrete actions, several economies can benefit from the silicon economy and build a successful and competitive future globally.

About the author:

*Gisselle Ruíz Lanza is vice president of the Sales and Marketing Group and General Director of Intel Latin America.

The opinions expressed are only the responsibility of their authors and are completely independent of the position and the editorial line of Forbes Mexico.

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